7 Common Misconceptions About French Culture Debunked

Muriel
5 min read6 days ago

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Eiffel Tower

Here we go again — Candace Owens is stirring the pot with yet another round of debunked conspiracy theories about France and Brigitte Macron. This saga is, in my view, a textbook case of the cultural divide: what Candace presents as ‘proof’ or ‘evidence’ is, at best, a collection of non-responses (“They didn’t reply to my questions… hence what I was saying must be true!” Hmm, not quite, darling. They just didn’t reply because they didn’t have to). Or, it’s a mix of facts taken out of context to serve a narrative (André Gide is a celebrated French author, his personal life complex, yet his works are still studied in academia. The fact that Macron enjoys Gide’s writings doesn’t prove anything).

But I think there’s something deeper at play here: we French think differently than Anglo-Saxons. I hate to generalize, but this is, in essence, the conclusion I came up with. Let me put it another way: don’t be too quick to judge when you don’t know what you don’t know. Here’s why:

  1. In France, Privacy is Sacred
    In France, personal details like sexuality, marital status, religion, and ethnicity aren’t just private — they’re legally protected. Imagine my shock when I moved to the UK and then Australia, having to fill out countless forms asking about my religion, ethnicity, and sexuality as if it were routine. In France, this would be illegal, even for statistical purposes.
    Brigitte Macron, therefore, has absolutely no obligation to justify herself. In France, birth certificates are not public documents — only the person concerned can obtain a copy. Brigitte Macron has children; it is self-evident that she’s a biological woman. But even if she were trans, most people wouldn’t care (I certainly wouldn’t). As for the supposed ‘scandal’ about when her relationship with the President really began? That’s their business. Has anything untoward happened? Well, in the absence of legal proceedings, the answer is a resounding no. And that, frankly, is where it ends for most French people. Again, the President’s private life is none of my business, and no laws were broken.

2. Evidence Isn’t Just ‘Probable’
In France, evidence is held to a strict standard: it must be proven, not just ‘probably true.’ This cultural nuance explains many international misunderstandings when French cases hit global news.
This is compounded by the fact that French courts rarely require or even allow witnesses to testify or make public admissions, especially in civil proceedings. Most cases are argued in writing — justice isn’t a show.
So, Candace Owens needs to prove her claims — not Brigitte Macron. And what does she ‘prove’ in her show? Absolutely nothing.

3. Nuance Over Simplification

Andre Gide

We French embrace complexity. Even if someone’s personal life is controversial or morally questionable, we can still appreciate their professional or intellectual contributions. As Montaigne mused, “Et, si elle est putain, faut-il qu’elle soit punaise?” (And if she is a prostitute, must she also stink?), highlighting the separation between private character and public merit.
We don’t see the world in black and white. It doesn’t mean that we condone, accept, or encourage every sort of behaviour, it means that we separate the person from their ideas or their work. This concept is hard to grasp for Anglo-Saxons: they love nothing more than a good scandal based on someone’s private life. Even if it is made up. When you can’t debate ideas, you play the player. Much easier, right?

4. The ‘Cheese-Eating Surrender Monkeys’ Myth
This tired cliché ignores France’s extensive and impressive military history. As Niall Ferguson points out, France has fought in more wars than most nations, from Napoleon’s campaigns to the Résistance during WWII. And let’s not forget that without France, the U.S. wouldn’t have won its independence. So please, give me a break.
And anyway: you didn’t fight for anything; you just like to score points for something that happened decades ago, for which you did absolutely nothing. Let me tell you something: my family (just like many French families) was decimated by the various wars of the 20th century. Don’t you dare lecture me.

This is one of my great grand-uncles, who died in WW1

5. The Myth of French Rudeness
French people aren’t rude — we’re direct. We value formality, greetings, and the art of conversation. What’s often mistaken for arrogance is simply a refusal to sugarcoat things. If something isn’t good, we’re not going to pretend it is — yes, even if it hurts your feelings. We. Don’t. Care. It’s not personal; it’s just French. Get over it. Or stay in your bubble and don’t bother us.

6. The Assumption of Uniformity

Do You Saint Tropez?

France isn’t a monolith. Cultural and regional differences are vast — whether it’s the laid-back South, the hustle of Paris, or the contrast between conservative and avant-garde circles. The idea of a singular ‘French personality’ is as outdated as the beret-and-baguette stereotype.

7. No Identity Politics
We French don’t do identity politics. We are French before anything else — end of. We are French before being Christians, Jews, Muslims, or whatever. We don’t care about the colour of our skin or our sexual orientation. We are ALL French.
BLM never really gained traction in France because the French don’t buy into the idea of collective guilt. We watch the Anglo world wallowing in self-flagellation and granting special rights to selected minorities, and we don’t understand. We don’t do quotas — we don’t even have ethnicity statistics. We debate, we compensate or reach an agreement if some wrongs must be righted, and we try to move on together. That’s how we handle history — by acknowledging it, not by rewriting it or making it a weapon of division.
And don’t get me wrong: it doesn’t mean that we French are perfect. There is racism, sexism, etc…but we try to debate it frankly, solve it, and work together to improve our integration model. It might not be to your liking, but it’s the French way.

Conclusion
It’s time for a deeper appreciation of the contradictions and complexities that make France, well, France. And this lesson doesn’t apply to France alone — don’t be too quick to judge when you don’t know what you don’t know. Your stereotypes and extrapolations don’t work everywhere. So what next? Well, let’s challenge these misconceptions. Share your own experiences or insights about cultural differences and misunderstandings. Because if we really talk and listen to each other, we will progress together.

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Muriel
Muriel

Written by Muriel

The French Yummy Mummy is back...

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